Les Claypool, bassist of many bands, including Primus, collaborated with vi… Read Full Bio ↴Les Claypool, bassist of many bands, including Primus, collaborated with virtuoso guitarist Buckethead, Parliament/Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell, and former Primus drummer Brain (Bryan Mantia) under the name Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains (a combination of all the band members' names). They were first formed at the first Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2002. Worrell, Brain and Buckethead were there to perform with Bill Laswell as Praxis. Laswell was not able to play at the concert, so Claypool introduced them to jam with him. From this point, they developed the concept of this supergroup. Their early concerts pushed the improvisational envelope by preparing no material and not rehearsing beforehand.

In 2004 the group recorded their only album "the big eyeball in the sky" and toured nationwide in support of the album.

The band briefly reunited without Brain at the 2006 Wakarusa Festival where, during Les Claypool's Fancy Band set, Bernie and Buckethead came onstage and played "the Big Eyeball in the Sky". Claypool dubbed this incarnation "Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Baldi", Baldi being Paulo Baldi who was a drummer for Cake and The Fancy Band.

Junior
Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yee Haw!
Look at him go
Look at that sonabitch go!

There is a boy named Junior
Playing Uncle Sam
Got a master plan
Like Vietnam

Don't give a good goddamn about Saddam
Gonna drink his oil right out the can
Look at him go

Throwing cash around like it's made of dirt
God made dirt and dirt don't hurt
Gets that monkey on the back of his shirt
Once that 10-40 starts to spurt
Look at him go

Quite an interesting situation you all have there
I'm not sure if he's mad
Or slightly off center
It's amusing from my perspective
In sort of a frightening way
Look at him go

Now if you give him half a chance
He'll surely impress you with his dance
Maybe even reach on down in your pants

Give you some greasy ol' romance
Look at him go

Overall Meaning

The song "Junior" by Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains tells the story of a young boy named Junior who is playing at being Uncle Sam, with a master plan like Vietnam, not caring about Saddam, and ready to drink oil straight from the can. The lyrics describe him as throwing cash around like dirt, with a monkey on his back, and when he starts to spurt, he is unstoppable. The singer comments on the situation in an amused yet frightening way, not sure if Junior is mad or just a bit off-center. He warns that if you give him half a chance, Junior will impress you with his dance, and may even reach down into your pants for some greasy romance.

Line by Line Meaning

Yee Haw!
An exclamation of excitement

Look at him go
Observing Junior's actions

There is a boy named Junior
Introducing the character of Junior

Playing Uncle Sam
Emulating the actions of the US government

Got a master plan
Has a detailed plan of action

Like Vietnam
Similar to the military operation in Vietnam

Don't give a good goddamn about Saddam
Not concerned about the well-being of Saddam Hussein

Gonna drink his oil right out the can
Obtaining oil by any means necessary

Throwing cash around like it's made of dirt
Spending money frivolously

God made dirt and dirt don't hurt
Justifying the reckless spending

Gets that monkey on the back of his shirt
Addiction to drugs or alcohol